Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

TD Bank surprises Weaverville woman

Samantha White of Weaverville and her daughter Alexia Stroud, 7. White received $25,000 from TD Bank to spend in 24 hours, which she used to buy pet food to donate to area shelters.(Photo: Courtesy of YouTube)

WEAVERVILLE – Last month, cosmetology student Samantha White of Weaverville thought she was going to TD Bank to do the employees' hair for a banking convention. She left with $25,000 and a plan to help our four legged friends. She had 24 hours to spend the money.

"It was probably the most epic day ever just to be able to give back and do so many good things," said White, who was chosen for the project after taking part in a survey commissioned by TD Bank where customers were asked to identify what they would do to help their community if they had $30,000 to spend in just one day.

White was one of 24 customers selected across North America for the project.

On Nov. 25, she and her daughter, Alexia Stroud, 7, were featured in the bank's online video, #MakeTodayMatter. In just two weeks of its posting, it had 4.2 million YouTube hits.

"It was just an indescribable feeling," White said. "It was just awesome. When they called me for my ideas, I never imagined in a million years that I would be able to do such a wonderful thing."

Alongside nine bank employees, White and her daughter went to the Patton Avenue Pet Company in downtown on Nov. 2 and purchased 30,000 pounds of pet food to donate to area animal rescues organizations and shelters.

They also picked up pet toys and beds and paid for the adoption fees for several animals at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

"It was a wonderful day of watching them interact with animals," said Greta Gibson, store manager for the Weaverville TD Bank branch. "They just picked up and went with it.

"It made an impression on the bank team how much bigger the world is than just the transactions we make each day," Gibson said. "One person can make a difference."

Pet food was dropped off at the Asheville Humane Society, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and the Madison County Animal Shelter.

"There was so much food, we didn't even know where to store it," said Heather Hayes, marketing and design manager for the Asheville Humane Society. "The entire lobby was filled with crates of food."

The donations will support Asheville Humane Society's pet food assistance program, which donates cat and dog food to 12 area food pantries to help people in need better support their pets.

The program was started after Meals on Wheels volunteers realized some of the people receiving food were giving half of their plates to their pets because they couldn't afford to purchase pet food on their own, Hayes said.

Last year, Asheville Humane Society distributed 20,000 pounds of food for its pet food assistance program, which continues to grow each year.

White, who originally wanted to do something to help people who are less fortunate, decided to reach out to animals after someone else was selected to help the homeless.

"Pets support us 110 percent and don't expect anything back, just love," she said. "There are so many unfortunate animals. They can't help that they are brought into this world and they don't have a voice."